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Old Dog Resources
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Aussie Article and Thoughts on Canine Massage
by Maria K. Duthie c.e.f.m.p.
What is it that makes our four legged friends jump, run, sit, and lay down? It is their nearly
600 hundred muscles which. Every joint has a pair of muscles, which work to
bend and straiten the limb. Imagine how it must feel to have one of those
muscles not wanting to work yet still having to go on with a normal dog
day. Still jumping when the gluteals are pulled, still running when the
deltoid is in spasm. Dogs will work for you because they love to please.
All of another or us at one time have needed to rub their arm or leg, dogs
need to also but they do not have hands to do so.
The art of massage has been in existence for centuries. Hundreds of years ago people would use
massage to help their animals remain healthy. That practice has recently
come into fashion again. Whether it is for an older dog with arthritis pain
or a younger dog in training massage can be a very valuable tool. It
promotes health and wellness in our animal friends by:
Increasing circulation
Relieving pain and stiffness
Increases range of motion
Reduces mental and physical fatigue
Helps removal of metabolic wastes
Releases muscles and chronic tension
Massage is very valuable for rescued animals that have not had the opportunity to bond
with people in the early stages of life. It is positive touch, which allows
them to relax and begin to trust. This emotional level is a very important
aspect of massage that can sometimes be left out. Buddy, an eight-year-old
Australian Shepard mix was rescued from a shelter and was never very
affectionate. He began coming for massage as a result of a tendon injury.
His owner was very happy to find that not only did his leg improve but his
attitude did as well. He used to suffer from separation anxiety and often
would rather lie under the bed rather then be petted by his owner.
Following his massages he began to want to be petted and generally became
more confident. He was a much happier dog, and his owner felt a connection
with him that had not been there before.
Often animals hide their medical problems from their owners. This was the case with
Rusty, a nine-year-old Australian Shepard. He showed no signs of pain at
all. Approximately one year before he began massage he had stopped jumping
on the bed and had stopped lifting his leg when he urinated. Within three
massages he was doing all of that and more. He began playing with other
dogs and generally became less aggressive. It became apparent that he had
some hip pain as well as a pulled slenius muscle. This had to be painful
but he learned to adapt his behavior to compensate for it. Long-term
compensation can lead to decreased muscle tone. It can also place
unnecessary stress on other muscle groups. Extra stress can lead to
possible soft tissue injury.
It is our job as owners to watch our animals carefully. Pay attention to how your dog
walks. If he or she twists or crosses their feet there could be extra
strain placed on muscles. Even more important is to notice a change in this
pattern. As a massage practitioner I want to know how the dog prefers to
lay and on what side. Every detail of the animal’s natural movement is
relevant. Half the battle is observation.
In my practice I use a combination of Swedish and sports massage techniques as well as
acupressure, reiki, and cranio sacral. I find this combination to be a
powerful method. Every dog is different and is in need of varied practices.
Reprinted with Permission from our friends at annisage.com.
For further information on massage or help with what we have already covered
please email maria@annisage.com or
visit www.annisage.com.
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